Concrete fence-post.



W..R. KIRKWOOD.

CONCRETE FENCE POST.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 20, 1912.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

INVENTOR Z131 J QW/lltomey nric CONCRETE FENCE-POST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 20, 1912.

Patented Feb.17,1914. Serial No. 698,445.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM R. KIRK- woon, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Seattle, in the county 'of King and State ofWashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inConcrete Fence-Posts, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements infence posts of that general type which are adapted to be formed ofconcrete or similar plastic ma terial, the object of the invention beingto provide a concrete fence post which is simple and inexpensive in itsconstruction, which is extremely durable and long lived, and whichembodies novel features of construction whereby the fence wires can bereadily brought into or out of engagement therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide a concrete fence postwhich canbe easily and cheaply constructed, which is strongly reinforcedat those portions which might be liable to breakage, and which can bemoved as often as desired, and in which there are no exposed iron orwood parts such as would be subject to rust and decay.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fullyappear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof beingpointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is aside elevation of a pair of fence posts constructed in accordance withthe invention, fence wires being shown as engaging the notches therein.Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the fence posts. Fig. 3is a vertical sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is ahorizontal sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the samereference characters.

Specifically describing the present embodiment of the invention, thenumeral 1 designates the body portion of the post which preferablytapers toward the upper end thereof, and is designed to be formed ofsome plastic material such as concrete or the like. A longitudinallyreinforcing member 2 extends through the center of the post and servesin the usual manner to tie and bond the concrete together so to preventbrealc age of the post. A series of vertically elongated horizontallydisposed slots 3 extend transversely through the post and open throughthe sides thereof, the said slots being formed at suitable intervalsthroughout thelength of the post and being disposed toward the frontfaces thereof. Each of these slots is intersected by a diagonallydisposed slot 4 in the front of the post forming the overhangingportions 3*, the upper and lower ends of the horizontal slots 3 beingdisposed above and below the corresponding ends of the diagonal slot 4so that when the fence wire is in engagement with either the top orbottom of the slot 3 there will be no danger of the fence wire workingits way into one end of the diagonal slot 4. The fence wires 5 extendthrough the horizontal slots 3 and when drawn taut, as indicated in Fig.1, these fence wires are out of alinement with the diagonal slots 4 andwill not enter the same. The fence wires are thus held securely inposition, although should it at any time be necessary to detach one ofthe wires from the post,,it is merely necessary to manipulate the wireuntil that portion thereof within the horizontal slot 3 is brought underthe diagonal slot 4 and in alineinent therewith. Vhen this wire is inalinement with the diagonal slot 4, it can be readily inserted into thehorizontal notch 3 or removed therefrom, as may be desired. Theoverhanging portions 3 of the concrete on each side of the diagonalnotch 4 are reinforced by the Z shaped plates 6. The intermediate arm 6of each of the Z shaped plates is horizontally disposed and slightlyspaced from the adjacent end of the horizontal slot 3, the inner arm 6of the Z shaped reinforcing bar being anchored in the concrete post andextending away from the horizontal slot 3, while the outer arm 6 of thereinforcing member extends into the overhanging portion of the concreteand has the edge thereof cut off on a bias or slant so as to extendparallel to the diagonal slot 4. It will be observed, however, that noportion of these metal reinforcing plates are exposed, so that they arenotliable to rust and decomposition. It will thus be obvious that Ihavepro-' vided a concrete fence post which is simple and reliable in itsconstruction, and which securely holds the fence wires againstaccidental disengagement, although the wires can be readily applied tothe post or removed therefrom at any time.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. As a new article of manufacture, the herein described fence postformed of plastic material and constructed with a transversely disposedand vertically elongated wire receiving slot which opens throughopposite sides of the post, a diagonally disposed slot being formed inthe face of the post and intersecting said transverse slot to admit ofthe wire being readily placed within or removed from the transverseslot, said diagonal slot providing overhanging portions, and Z shapedreinforcing plates embedded in the plastic post on opposite sides of thetransverse slot, the intermediate arms of the Z shaped reinforcingplates being transversely disposed and slightly spaced from the top andbottom respectively of the transverse slot, while the inner arms areextended longitudinally to provide anchors, the outer arms projectinginto the before mentioned overhanging portions of the plastic materialso as to reinforce the edges of the diagonal slot.

2. As a new article of manufacture, the herein described fence postformed of plastic material and constructed with a transversely disposedand vertically elongated wire receiving slot which opens throughopposite sides of the post, a diagonally disposed slot being formed inthe face of the post which intersects the transverse slot to admit ofthe wire being readily deflected and placed within or removed from thetransverse slot, said diagonal slot providing overhanging portions, andZ shaped plates embedded in the plastic material of the post on oppositesides of the transverse slot, the intermediate arms of the Z shapedplates being transversely disposed and slightly spaced from the top andbottom respectively of the transverse slot, while the inner ends of thereinforcing plates are longitudinally disposed to provide anchors, theouter arms projecting into the before mentioned overhanging portions,the extremities thereof being cut off on a bias so as to besubstantially parallel with the diagonal slot and reinforce the same.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

lVILLlAM R. KIRICWOOD. l Vitnesses JAs. R. GILLILAND, CHAS. E. MnAns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C."

